As might be expected from the complex regulation of hypothalamic neuronal activity by ACh, cholinergic modulation of feeding behavior is multifactorial and state-dependent. In rats, the mAChR competitive antagonist atropine modestly altered the frequency and choice of meals but not their size (Nissenbaum and Sclafani, 1988). Consistent with the ability of nicotine in tobacco smoke to decrease body weight in humans and food intake in rats (Grunberg et al., 1988), β4-containing nAChRs on POMC neurons are critical for the ability of nicotine to reduce food intake in mice (Mineur et al., 2011). These observations underscore a potential role for ACh in metabolic regulation involving POMC neurons; however, very little is known about the role of endogenous ACh-mediated modulation of the arcuate nucleus.
